Elisa Balsamo chasing experience at Track Worlds after four
junior world titles

April 10th 2017

Elisa Balsamo after winning the omnium at the 2016 Junior
Track World Championships. Photo: Guy Swarbrick

Italy's Elisa Balsamo will make her elite Track World
Championship debut in Hong Kong this week, following an
outstanding two years as a junior. Balsamo who claimed four
world titles as a junior, three on the track and one on the
road is looking forward to racing against the best in the
world.

After winning the junior scratch world title in 2015, Balsamo
added the team pursuit in a world record time and omnium
crowns on the track before adding the road world title in
2016.

In her elite debut at the European Track Championships last
October, she got off to a flying start taking gold in the team
pursuit. Before impressing in the omnium with a fourth place
finish behind Katie Archibald, Kirsten Wild and Lotte Kopecky.
Before adding World Cup silver in the team

The 19-year-old is carrying good form to Hong Kong after
finishing second in the omnium at the Belgian International
Track Meeting, to Kirsten Wild but beat World Cup winner Lotte
Kopecky and two-time world champion Sarah Hammer.

While 2017 may be about gaining experience don't be surprised
to see Balsamo challenging for the podium. Where she is down
to line
up in the omnium, Madison and team pursuit.

How did your first start cycling and how old were you?

I was seven years old and I had a crash with in my first race
with another rider. I arrived walking and carrying my bike.

2016 was your second year in the under 19 category
after winning the scratch race world title in 2015 do you
think that experience helped you in 2016?

Yes, it helped me both in competition than in training at
home.

European Champion in the team pursuit and omnium
breaking the TP World Record in the process what did it mean
to you and did it give you confidence ahead of the Junior
Track World Championships?

Yes, because I felt that I was ready to compete at
international level and knew how to improve for the World
Championships.

Won the team pursuit world title after a tough battle
with New Zealand. After being disqualified in 2015 what did it
mean to stand on the top step of the podium as the world
champion?

After breaking the TP World Record in Montichiari we knew that
we had a good chances for the World Championship but the
victory is never sure until the end. For me to stand on the
top step of the podium has been a big return match for all the
Italian team.

Produced a dominant display in the omnium over the
first five events. What was your plan for the points race and
how did it play out for you?

We decided to make it a hard competition on the New Zealand
girl [Michaela Drummond] that was second and pay attention so
that no one could gain a lap.

Unleashed your powerful sprint to win the junior world
title on the road. Had a lot of support from your team what
did it mean to win a third world title in 2016?

The victory was the result of great teamwork. The entire world
could watch the race on TV and that is very important for
women's cycling.

Made the step up to the elite ranks at the European
Track Championships where you won the team pursuit. Only a few
months after winning the under 19 title couldn't have asked
for a better start in the elite category?

Yes, it was wonderful! I have to say thank you to the national
coach for giving me this opportunity.

Also raced the omnium where you finished fourth behind
Katie Archibald, Kirsten Wild and Lotte Kopecky how did you
find the step up from juniors?

It was hard but I think that track competition is easier that
on the road. On the track the problem is not the longer
distanced of the races as on the road, but the unbelievable
accelerations that the elite riders can do compared to
juniors.

Finished second to Kirsten Wild at the Belgian
International Track Meeting finishing ahead of former World
Champion Sarah Hammer and World Cup winner Lotte Kopecky how
the racing go for you? Can you take confidence from the
result?

It was a surprise for me to finish second in such an important
competition and I am very happy and satisfied. I was very
quiet in the competition and without pressures because for me
was important to get the experience.

UCI has changed the format of the omnium taking the
timed events out making it a four-event one day competition.
You have had a couple of opportunities to race it now against
strong competition what are your thoughts on it? Do you think
it suits you?

For me the old format was better because I like the timed
event but I'm working to improve and make gain experience in
the new format.

What does it mean to be selected in the Italian team
for the Track World Championships in your first year out of
juniors? Something you were obviously working towards but did
you expect it?

I trained hard in the winter and it was my hope to be selected
for Track World Championships, I didn't expect it and now I
will try to do my best in the competition.

What are you most looking forward to about Worlds and
what do you think the biggest challenges will be?

I am looking forward to racing with the best riders in the
world, understand how strong they are and so in the future I
will be able to get at the same level.

Looking a bit further ahead what are your goals over
the next few years? Is the omnium a big goal you are working
towards for the 2020 Olympics?

The first big goal is the Track World Championships in Hong
Kong. I'm very happy to be selected in the national team. Sure
Tokyo 2020 is the big goal for the future and sure I will be
working hard both for omnium and team pursuit.